Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. As she stated, the recruitment and retention of staff is a problem. I raised this matter in the House a few months ago. I am not sure how long ago it was, but I raised it a number of times.

I am still a bit worried about any difference that might still remain. I have been told there is a difference of 1.5%. That should not and could not be the case. Some 5,000 workers were going to go out on strike. Thousands of disabled people and their families would have been upset. Some of them would not have been able to get out of bed today. The talks should not have gone to the brink like that. I am glad the Minister of State has admitted that it should not have gone that far.

People are born with disabilities and others become disabled during their lives. As elected representatives in this Chamber, we must do our level best for them and help the workers because the work is highly specialised. The staff are trained and it takes years before people are on top of their job in certain areas where there are tricky and hard things to do to manage these people who are the way they are through no fault of their own. We call them special people.

Whatever about anything else, we must help disabled people and people who cannot fend for themselves. There is one big worry. I know several parents who have such children and they have borne the cross very well all their lives. However, they get older and get into their 70s and 80s and then perhaps only one parent is left. Age determines how long we stay on this earth, no matter what kind of health we are in. These parents find themselves in this position and are totally dependent. There should never again be any difference in the pay of section 39 and section 38 workers. They are all wonderful people and they must all be treated the same as far as pay is concerned.

See this speech in context